The Truth of the Heavenly Dao Sect’s Mission

Chi Qiu and the other person passed through the grand gate, only to find themselves not in the dragon tomb cavern one might have imagined, but rather on a vast, sprawling plain.

“Where are we?” Chi Qiu inquired, turning a bewildered gaze towards Su Hanxing, who stood nearby.

“This must be a space personally created by the Yinglong itself…” Su Hanxing’s pupils glowed with a faint purple light as he scanned their surroundings, quickly arriving at a conclusion.

“A space created by the Yinglong itself? Does that mean the world where the treasure hall resided earlier doesn’t count?” Chi Qiu asked, her curiosity piqued.

“The world where the treasure hall was situated was far too small, resembling little more than a personal grotto,” Su Hanxing explained. “This world, however, is immense; its vast area likely rivals that of the Sishui Marsh. It must be an internal world personally created by the Yinglong itself.” The purple glow in his eyes receded as he took two steps closer to Chi Qiu, his voice carrying a slight gravity.

“The place where the Yinglong met its demise must be right here.”

Chi Qiu looked up at Su Hanxing, then nodded subtly. “The True Dragon’s Aura must surely be here. Let us make haste to find it, lest our delay allows it to fall into the hands of others.”

“Indeed. We should head in that direction; the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is most concentrated there,” Su Hanxing affirmed.

Su Hanxing mirrored her nod, his finger pointing towards the east, a subtle hint of anticipation in his voice. The two immediately set off. Due to Chi Qiu’s slower movement technique, their pace was not particularly swift.

“I had not anticipated that for this Yinglong Tomb expedition, all major forces would dispatch so many cultivators to vie for the True Dragon’s Aura. Once we reach the Dragon Transformation Pool, we must proceed with extreme caution and refrain from forcibly seizing it.” A headache began to throb in Su Hanxing’s temples at the mere thought of the three members of the Qi clan having brought eight hundred Black Armored Imperial Guards into the tomb.

“For this journey into the Yinglong Tomb, I am already deeply content and will not forcibly seek the True Dragon’s Aura,” Chi Qiu affirmed with a nod. On this expedition, she had not only broken through to the God Concealing stage but also acquired the Tribulation Lightning Origin from the Yinglong.

Regarding magical treasures, Su Hanxing had first bestowed upon her a black jade longsword. Later, within the grand hall, she had acquired a set of mid-grade Primordial Spirit Treasure armor. With such gains, she felt utterly satisfied, harboring no further desires.

“If an opportunity arises, we should certainly contend for it,” Su Hanxing continued. “However, even if none presents itself, we must still fulfill our sect mission and personally witness who ultimately claims this True Dragon’s Aura.”

“You often descend the mountain to gain experience in the mortal world. Is it always, like this time, for the purpose of executing sect missions?” Chi Qiu mused, recalling how frequently she and Su Hanxing had encountered each other in various places, even clashing several times, back when she was still in her male form.

“This… indeed, I was executing sect missions,” Su Hanxing admitted with a slight start, a hint of resignation in his tone.

“Might you be able to disclose the mission details to me?” Chi Qiu probed, her curiosity evident.

“Of course not! What I mean is, sect secrets cannot be divulged!” Su Hanxing’s tone suddenly flared with agitation. Noticing the confusion in Chi Qiu’s eyes, he quickly composed himself. “In short, you only need to know that the sect mission you are undertaking is connected to the True Dragon’s Aura. As for the specific details, I cannot reveal them.”

“Alright then,” Chi Qiu muttered, pouting slightly in vexation.

“However, if you achieve a certain level of completion for this sect mission, the sect will bestow generous rewards,” Su Hanxing added.

“Rewards?” Chi Qiu’s eyes immediately brightened.

Su Hanxing’s emotions surged with sudden agitation, yet upon meeting Chi Qiu’s suspicious gaze, he quickly forced himself to regain composure.

A peculiar thought suddenly surfaced in Chi Qiu’s mind. She lifted her gaze to the outwardly composed Su Hanxing, and a daring conjecture abruptly took root within her. Slowly, she extended a hand, pointing a finger at herself, her voice soft but undeniably firm as she spoke:

“Is the Tianyan Sect’s mission target… me?”

Instantly, sweat beaded on Su Hanxing’s forehead, his heart hammering uncontrollably. He stared at the earnest expression on Chi Qiu’s face, opening his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately only managing a few dry, hollow laughs.

“Why? Why would the Tianyan Sect designate me as their target?”

Chi Qiu had cultivated as a rogue for many years, and she was certain she had never incurred the Tianyan Sect’s enmity. Why, then, would they dispatch their chief disciple to hunt her down?

Daqi was an immense realm. Chi Qiu had cultivated for a mere eight years in total, and her adventures across the land had spanned no more than five. Yet, in those five years, she had encountered Su Hanxing at least ten times, clashing with him on four separate occasions. This was a pattern that could not possibly be dismissed as mere coincidence.

“This matter, I genuinely do not know,” Su Hanxing confessed. Realizing Chi Qiu had already seen through everything, he scratched his head, tacitly acknowledging her assertion.

“What, then, is your true purpose for accompanying me all this way?”

Chi Qiu fixed a hostile gaze upon Su Hanxing, her expression clearly indicating that she would not let the matter rest until he provided a thorough explanation.

“Little Chi, rest assured,” Su Hanxing declared, thumping his chest for emphasis upon seeing Chi Qiu’s grim expression. “Your name has already been removed from the Tianyan Sect’s mission roster. No cultivators from our sect will pursue you again.”

“Why?” Chi Qiu countered, her voice sharp.

Su Hanxing remained silent, his gaze sweeping over Chi Qiu’s form from head to toe, a peculiar expression settling upon his face.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Could it be…” Chi Qiu began, feeling profoundly uneasy under Su Hanxing’s scrutinizing gaze. Then, a sudden realization struck her.

Is it because of my body?

Su Hanxing let out a long sigh, finally steeling his resolve.

“My Tianyan Sect stands firm in Daqi through the arts of deduction and stargazing,” Su Hanxing began, sidestepping Chi Qiu’s direct question to elaborate on his sect. “Our founder, the Grand Elder Yan Tianxing, descends from the mountain once every thirty years to seek immortals and consult prophecies, recording hundreds of names. If these individuals are mere mortals, they are disregarded. However, if they embark upon the path of cultivation, they must be eliminated swiftly, lest they wreak havoc upon a region in the future.”

“Over ninety percent of these names belong to mortals,” he continued. “Only a scattered few are ever marked on the list every thirty years, destined to be hunted down by us.”

“So, my name was on this list?” Chi Qiu asked, her expression chillingly indifferent.

“Ten years ago, the Grand Elder descended from the mountain and inscribed three hundred and sixty-five names,” Su Hanxing explained. “Thirty-six disciples from my Tianyan Sect were then dispatched to search. At that time, you were still a mortal, so our sect did not send anyone to pursue you.”

Chi Qiu maintained a detached expression, yet a faint unease stirred within her.

“Every five years, the Tianyan Sect re-screens these individuals to ascertain if they have embarked upon the path of cultivation. Five years ago, my Master dispatched me to verify your status—it was my first sect mission, and I was eighteen,” Su Hanxing recounted, looking at Chi Qiu. Chi Qiu offered a subtle nod.

Five years prior marked their initial encounter. At that time, her divine ability, ‘Intertwined Gold,’ had just reached minor accomplishment, allowing her to successfully defeat Su Hanxing.

“You already know what transpired next,” Su Hanxing recounted, spreading his hands in a gesture of helplessness. “I made my move against you, and subsequently, Master designated this mission as a whetstone to spur my progress, no longer entrusting it to others. Thus, for the past five years, I frequently sought you out to engage in combat.”

“You and I have clashed numerous times, yet I never once saw you attempt to take my life,” Chi Qiu said, a frown creasing her brow.

“When we first fought, it was my inaugural sect mission,” Su Hanxing explained. “At the time, I perceived that while you were a rogue cultivator, you lacked the ruthlessness common among others of your kind, and thus, I refrained from delivering a fatal blow.”

“The Tianyan Sect, hmph. To so casually decree life and death, what immense authority,” Chi Qiu scoffed. Upon hearing Su Hanxing’s explanation, her expression finally softened somewhat, though her words still brimmed with indignation towards the Tianyan Sect.

In response to Chi Qiu’s deep-seated resentment, Su Hanxing could only offer a helpless smile.

“Among that batch of names, only you, Little Chi, subsequently became a cultivator. That is why I have been pursuing you all these years,” Su Hanxing continued, pausing briefly. “On one hand, it was for the sect mission; on the other, it was to observe whether you would indeed bring disaster to a region.”

“I once questioned the Grand Elder as to why you, Little Chi, were destined to bring calamity upon a region in the future,” Su Hanxing revealed. “The Grand Elder informed me that you were born with demonic energy inherent within your body. If you were to tread the path of cultivation, this wisp of demonic energy would only grow stronger, ultimately devouring your consciousness and transforming you into a mindless puppet capable only of slaughter.” Su Hanxing offered a bitter laugh, knowing full well Chi Qiu was unlikely to believe such claims, yet he spoke them nonetheless.

“So you swapped my body?” Chi Qiu’s voice was laced with sarcasm. “Should I be profoundly grateful for this exchange?” In her estimation, Su Hanxing was merely attempting to absolve himself and the Tianyan Sect. Who, after all, could possibly verify the truth of such an ephemeral claim of demonic energy?

“I also harbored some personal motives,” Su Hanxing admitted, a hint of remorse on his face. “It so happened that I had just mastered the soul-transfer technique, which allows the spirit to leave the body. So, I consulted with the Grand Elder, proposing we first swap your body. The Grand Elder agreed, but he instructed me to bring your original body back to the Tianyan Sect, to refine it in an alchemy furnace, and thereby seek out the deduced demonic energy.”

“Oh? And was that demonic energy ever found?” Chi Qiu’s voice was icy.

“Indeed, a peculiar seven-colored wisp of gas did manifest,” Su Hanxing confirmed. “Regrettably, it appeared for but a fleeting moment before vanishing into thin air.”

Su Hanxing produced a crystal. “The entire incineration process was recorded by both myself and the Grand Elder. Little Chi, if you doubt my words, you are welcome to observe it.”

Chi Qiu took the crystal, dispatching a wisp of her divine soul into it, where a scene instantly reflected within.

Su Hanxing was shown retrieving the refining furnace, then, as instructed, placing Chi Qiu’s original body inside. To one side, an elder in a black robe, his face obscured, stood attentively, watching Su Hanxing incinerate Chi Qiu’s body.

Chi Qiu accelerated the crystal’s playback, quickly locating the seven-colored gas Su Hanxing had mentioned.

From the body, now reduced to a mummified corpse, a three-chi-long, hair-thin wisp of seven-colored gas suddenly emanated, only to dissipate into the heavens and earth in the blink of an eye.

After witnessing the seven-colored gas, Chi Qiu withdrew her divine soul. She had no desire to linger on the sight of her body being incinerated. With a casual flick of her wrist, she returned the crystal to Su Hanxing.

“I am not trying to absolve myself or the Tianyan Sect. This matter was truly an injustice to you, and I am willing to apologize on behalf of the Tianyan Sect.”

Su Hanxing halted, bowing slightly.

Chi Qiu sidestepped, unwilling to accept his gesture. She spoke coldly, “If this matter is truly as you describe, then you have, in fact, helped me. However, I will not simply believe your one-sided account. Once I leave the Yinglong Tomb, I will investigate this personally. If it truly is as you say, then there will be no grievances between us. But if it is not…”

As she spoke, Chi Qiu’s golden eyes narrowed slightly.

“I will surely cut you down.”

Killing intent permeated her brilliant golden pupils, and the scales on her dark armored form bristled, black aura spreading outwards, revealing waves of murderous intent.

Despite the many days they had spent together, Chi Qiu was, in truth, willing to believe Su Hanxing. However, she was not one to blindly trust others. It would not be too late to deal with the matter after she had thoroughly investigated it herself.

Hearing Chi Qiu’s words, Su Hanxing let out a bitter laugh, offering no resistance.

I had always believed the Tianyan Sect to be different from other sects and noble families, yet I never imagined it would fall to such depths.

Su Hanxing felt a pang of regret. Regardless of the exact role Su Hanxing played in this affair, Chi Qiu had grown utterly disgusted with the Tianyan Sect.

To so casually determine the fate of others based solely on deductions and divination was an act of extreme arrogance, one Chi Qiu found intolerable.

Su Hanxing’s face registered helplessness. Although he, too, found the matter somewhat absurd, he owed a debt of gratitude to the Tianyan Sect and naturally could not interfere with its actions.